8 top clay grounds to visit in the South-West

Whether you’re looking for a fun day out, you’re completely new to clay shooting or you’re a more experienced shot hoping to improve your skills, there are plenty of places to visit in order to smash some clay – so we’ve compiled a list of our favourite places to practice across the South West.

Purbeck Shooting School, Dorset

01929 405 101

Located in the heart of Dorset, Purbeck Shooting School has an English sporting practice layout, skeet layout, a high tower and fully automated traps. Their naturalistic targets ensure a careful balance of difficulty to suit beginners through to even the most accomplished shot. Annual membership is £85 and lessons start at £35 for half an hour.

Cart Ridge Shooting Ground, Cornwall

01752 851 262

Cart Ridge Shooting Ground is based in Saltash, Cornwall and can be found at the foot of a stunning Cornish valley with the River Tiddy running nearby. Owner David Dingle offers coaching from a selection of stands – catering for the complete novice, stag and hen parties, small corporate days and there are some more challenging targets (over 200ft high), for the experienced shots. Contact the ground for details on pricing.

Lady’s Wood Shooting School, Bristol

01454 294 546

Lady’s Wood provides a unique experience for shooters of all abilities. There are various elevated traps, two towers - 60ft and 120 ft and various sporting layouts to choose from – all of which can simulate anything from a bolting rabbit to a long distance pheasant. The grounds are set in 65 acres of beautiful woodland with a very welcoming Cotswold Stone Lodge. Annual membership is £395 and an individual practice round (100 targets) is £45.

Ian Coley, Gloucestershire

01242 870 391

Ian Coley, located near to the Cotswold town of Cheltenham, is available for pay and play practice or tuition with a professional instructor. There is a selection of 24 stands to choose from - including a 120ft high tower, DTL and double trap layouts. An hour’s private tuition is £85, or use of the high tower is priced at £120 an hour, for a minimum of two people.

Prescott Shooting School, Gloucestershire

01242 650 254

Set in the heart of Gloucestershire, Prescott Shooting School has 27 permanent targets located across its grounds; offering something for all levels of experience. The targets are regularly changed to maintain a great level of variation and to present new challenges throughout the year. Monthly ‘have a go’ sessions are £35 and private lessons start at £72.

Shalden Shooting School, Devon

01398 328 035

Although Shalden Shooting School does not offer a pay and clay service, they pride themselves on patient and thorough guidance – making it the ideal shooting school for both novices interested in the sport and highly experienced shots wanting to refine their skills. Shooting lessons are offered either on a one to one basis or for up to three people sharing. They also host simulated game days – please contact the school for details on pricing.

Barbury Shooting School, Wiltshire

07872 666154

Barbury Shooting School is based in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside and practice sessions are available 7 days a week for experienced shooters to turn up and shoot a round of sporting clays. The school is also able to accommodate shooting novices, corporate days, parties and charity events – with clay packages to suit all. An hour’s lesson starts at £80 or an annual membership fee starts at £105 for one person.

Four Feathers Shooting School, Wiltshire

07770820222

Located in the picturesque Wylye Valley in Wiltshire, Four Feathers is a single instructor tuition ground. The large array of clay targets are realistically arranged to simulate an authentic shooting experience out in the field, and although there is no pay and play service at the grounds, instructor Chris Wheatley-Hubbard provides one-to-one tuition for beginners and the more experienced looking to develop their skills. A one hour lesson starts at £65 or a have-a-go introductory session is £45.